Strategic challenges in the Baltic Sea region : Russia, deterrence, and reassurance

How should the countries in the Baltic Sea region and their allies meet the strategic challenges posed by an openly aggressive and expansionist Russia? NATO and the nonaligned states in the region are now more concerned about an external threat than they have been since the end of the Cold War. Russia has been probing air space, maritime boundaries, and even land borders from the Baltic republics to Sweden. Russia's undermining of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea worries former Soviet republics with Russian minority populations, nonaligned Sweden and Finland are enhancing their cooperation with NATO, and the Trump presidency has created some doubt about America's willingness to follow through on NATO's collective defense commitment. Ann-Sofie Dahl brings together an international group of experts to examine Baltic security issues on a state-by-state basis and to contemplate what is needed to deter Russia in the region. The contributors analyze ways to strengthen regional cooperation, and to ensure that security in the region stays at the top of the agenda at a time of many competing strategic perspectives in the transatlantic community. This book will be of great interest to foreign policy and defense practitioners in the US and Europe as well as scholars and students of international relations. This Book Is About Security Challenges In The Baltic Sea Region Caused By Russia's Resurgence. Nato And Neutral States In The Region Are Now Concerned About An External Threat For The First Time Since The Demise Of The Soviet Union. Russia Has Been Probing Air Space, Maritime Boundaries, And Even Land Borders From The Baltic Republics To Sweden; The Example Of Russia's Undermining Of Ukraine And Annexation Of Crimea Worries Former Soviet Republics With Russian Minority Populations; Neutral Sweden And Finland May Consider Joining Nato; And The Trump Presidency Has Created Some Doubt About America's Willingness To Follow Through On Nato's Collective Defense Commitment. This Volume Brings Together An International Group Of Contributors To Examine Baltic Security Issues On A State-by-state Basis And To Contemplate What Is Needed To Deter Russia In The Region. The West, Russia And Baltic Sea Security -- Still The Indispensable Power : The Us And Baltic Sea Security / Robert J. Lieber -- Russia And Baltic Sea Security : A Background / Gudrun Persson -- Nato's Role In Baltic Sea Security : Re-establishing Deterrence, Projecting Stability / Jamie Shea -- The West And Russia : Another Front In The New Cold War? / Christopher Coker -- Nato Allies And Baltic Sea Security -- Are The Baltic States Next? Estonia, Latvia, And Lithuania / Andres Kasekamp -- Deterring Russia : An A2/ad Strategy In The Baltic Sea / Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen -- Russia As A Challenge In The Baltic Sea Region : A View From Warsaw / Justyna Gotkowska -- Germany : The Silent Baltic Country / Claudia Major And Alicia Von Voss -- Norwegian Perspectives On Baltic Sea Security -- Hakon Lunde Saxi -- Nato's Nordic Partners -- The Strategic Role Of Gotland / Johan Raeder -- Sweden And Finland : Partnership In Lieu Of Nato Membership / Ann-sofie Dahl -- Finland And Nato's Renewed Focus On Collective Defense / Karoliina Honkanen. Ann-sofie Dahl, Editor ; Foreword By Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.